NBA Rumors: Hottest Draft Reports on Top Prospects of 2015 NBA Draft
The top prospects heading into the 2015 NBA draft might be confident in their abilities, but there is a lot of uncertainty about each of their futures.
A player can read his name in mock drafts for months, and he might even receive a "promise" from an organization, but no one knows what will happen until the name is actually called. Before that happens, we can see some serious movement either up or down the draft for just about anyone.
Based on the latest buzz coming out of various camps, the past few days might be an indication of an interesting change for quite a few players.
D'Angelo Russell
Since the end of the college basketball season, most analysts have considered D'Angelo Russell the best guard in the class. The problem is this doesn't necessarily guarantee a high selection as need remains an important factor for any franchise.
On the plus side, Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress reports he is an almost certainty to go No. 3 to the Philadelphia 76ers:
This is based on the common belief Karl-Anthony Towns and Jahlil Okafor will be the first two selections in the first round; however, the Los Angeles Lakers won't necessarily let the Ohio State product get to the 76ers.
Bleacher Report's Kevin Ding predicts Los Angeles to take Russell instead of Okafor, if given the choice:
Ding adds the team has more confidence in the point guard becoming a star, helped a lot by his individual workout:
"This massive decision was always going to be about specific individuals, not the positions they play, and the vibe from Russell has been that he fits the mold of a leader, a winner and a Laker.
It didn't help that, according to team sources, Okafor's second predraft workout with the Lakers was a distinct drop-off from the first—whereas Russell was channeling Stephen Curry's velvety stroke in his follow-up workout with the team.
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While picking Russell over Okafor would represent a pretty big surprise based on the common mindset over the past few months, the decision would not be out of line. ESPN's Jay Bilas had some high praise for the All-American (via Mike & Mike):
Russell could be the marketable perimeter scorer the Lakers need to replace Kobe Bryant.
Frank Kaminsky
There has been a lot of talk lately about Latvian big man Kristaps Porzingis, a 7-footer who can step outside and make shots; however, another center with range has been around the whole time and is suddenly shooting up draft boards.
Frank Kaminsky is one of the top offensive players in the class with a proven ability to score both inside and out. While he might not have the athleticism and the upside of someone like Towns, he is a safe option for teams hoping to get immediate production from their first-round pick.
As a result, college basketball's player of the year is now climbing draft boards into possibly the top five, according to ESPN.com's Chad Ford:
According to Sean Deveney of the Sporting News, New York Knicks President Phil Jackson had Kaminsky over for dinner and would consider taking the big man at No. 4, although the front office would prefer to trade down, if possible.
On the other hand, a trade might not end up working out with other teams interested. Vlade Divac of the Sacramento Kings is currently slotted at No. 6 and remains intrigued by Kaminsky, per Ford. As well as the Wisconsin center would fit the triangle offense in New York, he would also be a nice piece to stretch the floor alongside DeMarcus Cousins.
With Ford reporting a floor of the Charlotte Hornets at No. 9, Kaminsky should feel confident going into Thursday night.
Willie Cauley-Stein
While things are going well for Kaminsky, Willie Cauley-Stein is seeing the other half and could end up with a major slide on draft day.
As Joe Kotoch of Sheridan Hoops reported, an ankle injury could push him out of the top 10 and possibly out of the lottery:
When healthy, Cauley-Stein is arguably the top defensive player in the entire class. Not only could he be a true rim protector inside, but he also has the lateral quickness to legitimately guard all five positions on the floor.
Interestingly, the center himself denies any serious injury, per Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv:
Teams have to trust their medical staffs to make sure they avoid drafting a player who won't be able to contribute; however, Cauley-Stein still represents an elite option for teams looking for someone to anchor the defense for years to come.
If he does end up falling into the teens, someone is going to get a major steal.
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